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Meet-ups

When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

Original poster

Islington update

109 replies

Zinger · 17/09/2004 09:34

Hi Islingtonians and those nearby: Aelita, Simi and I met up for the first time on Wednesday with our little ones, which was lovely. We're hoping to arrange another date very soon and would love to meet some more local mumsnetters - especially those with youngish babies (ours are 5-8 months).

Let's try and find a date that's convenient for as many people as possible this time. Post your availabiity / non-availability here and let's see what we can work out.

Mid-afternoon (3ish) works best for me - Weds, Thurs and Fridays are all good.

OP posts:
frogs · 13/10/2004 18:48

Thank you, aelita, for injecting a bit of culture into my suggestions! The Estorick collection would be lovely. Don't know what the opening times are, but will try to find out.

aelita · 13/10/2004 19:34

Tell you what - I'll try and scout out the Estorick tomorrow whilst DS is with the childminder and see how many it might fit inside with buggies. If it's no good, maybe it's one to save for next summer,
The cafe in the Geffrye Museum is nice and has loads of space as I recall, but I realise it would be a bit of a faff to get to for some.

frogs · 13/10/2004 19:42

Geffrye museum would be good too -- a favourite haunt of ours, and lots of outdoor space for toddlers. Might even be able to persuade hoxtonchick to come along.

hoxtonchick · 13/10/2004 21:23

i can hear you frogs! geffrye museum would be great for us.

aelita · 13/10/2004 22:24

Great - looks like we'll be busy,

Original poster
Zinger · 14/10/2004 09:32

Oh the Geffrye Museum is lovely. But as a lazy N1-er I'll stick to any meet-ups closer to home. Talking of which: not a meet-up as such but I'm still planning to go to the Books for Babies session at Islington Central Library tomorrow if anyone fancies it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 14/10/2004 09:34

mumfromlondon, welcome! No chatroom that I know of, just this board - and you can email people via the 'contact another talker' (CAT) link above. Do come along to one of our meetups - see this thread for details of the next one.

OP posts:
aelita · 14/10/2004 19:39

Well, I tried out the Estorick cafe today. It will be great for summer meetups outside, but I'm not so sure about right now. It would probably be okay if a max of 3 of us were there with foldable buggies and there were no other customers,
Zinger, this is your manor, any suggestions for cafes with a decent amount of buggy/mummy/baby space around Highbury Corner? I tried the Gill Wing cafe once, but despite no other customers being there they were really sniffy about my having a buggy.

frogs · 14/10/2004 19:51

Suggested Geffrye museum on the hackney meetup thread.

Otherwise Giraffe on Essex Road.

happybabymum · 14/10/2004 22:11

Hello,
I just moved to Islington. I have a 10-month old baby. I have been reading your messages, and they have been very helpful. I am looking for a playgroup for my baby, can somebody recommend one?
Thanks in advance,

Simi · 15/10/2004 09:59

Giraffe on Essex Road is a good idea. Also the "Living Room" opposite the Giraffe seems to be okay for mums during the day. We could always try Brown's again (near Islington Green) or is it still closed for refurbishment? Have we decided on a day yet? I am quite flexible but would prefer to meet after 2pm or around mid morning...

welshmum · 15/10/2004 10:05

Whereabouts are you happybabymum? If you're in a sure start area I know some really good ones

welshmum · 15/10/2004 10:06

Any of the Islington mums have 2 year olds?

cityjen · 15/10/2004 12:40

My dd is nearly 20 months old. I tried to start a toddler meet-up for a couple of weeks ago but the silence was deafening. ;)

Jennifer

happybabymum · 15/10/2004 14:30

hi,
i am near liverpool road, I would appreciate any information. Thanks again

frogs · 15/10/2004 14:36

Don't know much about playgroups, I'm afraid -- dd2 is 10 months but doesn't get to go to playgroups, since we have a permanent trail of bigger kids in and out of our house anyway...

There is a mother and baby group that meets at South Library on Essex Road at (I think) 10am on Tuesdays and Fridays (up the stairs at the back). There is also Highbury Fields Two o'clock club which is by the tennis courts at Highbury Fields.

Check with Sure Start, as they're quite active in this area. Also if you phone Islington Council and ask for the under-fives officer, they should be able to send you a list of all the under-fives provision in the borough.

hth

welshmum · 15/10/2004 14:39

Happymum - it might be worth you ringing the Sure start office I use 0207 619 9144 and seeing if you're in their catchment area - if you're not they might be able to tell you if you're in another one. As far as I remember it does include the Freightliner's Farm on Liverpool Road so you could be in luck. If so they do loads of stuff - lots of baby/toddler groups and some great stuff for parents too - massage, homeopathy, stress management etc Honestly it's been a godsend to me since dd arrived.
Cityjen I didn't see that sorry - I would have done my best to take part. Are you thinking of organising anything else?

alfiebetty · 15/10/2004 16:20

Anyone going to the NCT sale in Islington tomorrow?

frogs · 15/10/2004 16:21

Where? When? Always up for other people's cast-offs, me...

hoxtonchick · 15/10/2004 16:26

tomorrow, frogs. 2:30-4 in the St Mary's Neighbourhood Centre on Upper St (& I bet they'll be classy cast offs too). Might see you there....

frogs · 15/10/2004 16:28

Thanks! That's the children's Saturday afternoon outing taken care of then.

Original poster
Zinger · 15/10/2004 18:06

Giraffe is extremely baby-friendly (although the changing facilities could be better), but there isn't actually a huge amount of room for buggies. I've always found Browns the only place that has serious buggy room - apparently they're reopening at the end of the month. As I've said before though, now that DD is crawling, cafes in general are a bit of a strain.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zinger · 15/10/2004 18:08

Just a reminder: we already have a meetup organised for Fri 22 Oct. Venue flexible, but provisionally Highbury Fields 2 o'clock club. Please see this thread for details.

OP posts:
cityjen · 15/10/2004 20:49

Welshmum - I'd be happy to organize something else but there wasn't much interest. I'm free on Monday or Friday afternoons...

Jennifer

Posey · 15/10/2004 22:41

At a previous NCT sale at St. Mary's I got some fab stuff (including a wonderful baby sling in its box still for £2)

Happybabymum - depending on which bit of Liverpool Road you're in,(it could be a bit of a hike if you're up the Holloway Road end) can I recommend: Tuesday morning, 10-12 in West library (Thornhill Square), baby and toddler session, with singing and stories at 11am.
Friday mornings 10-12 drop in at St Andrews Church, Thornhill Sq. Quiet, gentle, friendly play, cuppa and biscuits. All free. I've been going there for years. It really is so nice, not in the least bit cliquey. Run by a lovely lady called Ingrid.

Cityjen, I'm sure I responded to your toddler meet up suggestion! Anyway would love to get together with you and any others, but always have to be back for 3ish for school pick up.